1. Federalists / AntiFederalists

2. Who are these groups?

After the constitution was created, it needed to be
RATIFIED (approved).

It became obvious that there were two ways of thinking
about the Constitution. Some were for it and some had
problems with it.

We call these two groups the Federalists and the AntiFederalists.

Lets look at what they believed…

3. View of the Federal
Government
Federalists

Believed there needed
to be a strong, federal
government.
Anti-Federalists

Were afraid of a federal
government becoming
too powerful.

Wanted to keep most
power with the states.

4. View of the 3 branches
Federalists

Believed the three
branches should have
equal power.
Anti-Federalists

Believed that the
legislative branch should
have more power than
the executive and the
courts.

5. View of who should lead the
government
Federalists

Wanted a strong
president or executive
to lead the country.
Anti-Federalists

Were afraid a president
would become like a
king.

Wanted to not have a
strong executive.

6. View of the Articles of
Confederation
Federalists

Believed the Articles
needed to be
completely revised.

Believed that the
country functioned
better as a united
country.
Anti-Federalists

Wanted to keep the
structure of a loose
union of independent
states.

Wanted only minor
changes in the articles.

7. Ideas about a Bill of Rights
Federalists

Didn’t think a bill of
rights was necessary.

Were afraid if you
started listing rights
people would think
those were the only
rights you had.
Anti-Federalists

Believed a Bill of Rights
was necessary to protect
the people from the
government.

8. Famous Members
Federalists
Anti-Federalists

Alexander Hamilton

Patrick Henry

John Jay

George Mason

James Madison

9. Writings – There are examples
of these in the blue textbook.
Federalists

Wrote the Federalist
Papers…a collection of
essays designed to
convince people to
support ratification.
Anti-Federalists

Also wrote essays